Miriam, Neel, and Marley had been at Romania for a month now. They were finally used to the slightly different environment and the way Dr. Lenom had the sanctuary positioned. Marley did the same as he did in Ukraine, but he was more accepted. In Romania, people appreciated him. They actually talked to him and started conversations. Marley was opening up. He was breaking out of his shell.

Charlie always looked Miriam's way when she was near him. Marley did the same. The two of them both liked Miriam, but they both didn't understand parts of her life. Charlie had known her since their school years, while Marley knew her since she started working in Ukraine. Both of them missed out on different halves of her lives.

But Miriam definitely changed since graduating Hogwarts. She was more mellow and less likely to punch someone in the face for not holding the door for her. Since she didn't have to look at Merula's face anymore, she started to cool down.

Charlie could see that she was a much more relaxed person. She was more gentle with creatures and human beings. He could see the way she acted around Marley. She treated him like he was her own child or sibling. Marley noticed that too. She didn't treat him like she was interested in him. She babied him, even though he was only three years younger than her.

"Charlie, I told you Neel doesn't like you, so stop coming in," Miriam scolded.

"Well, why doesn't he like me? I've done nothing wrong of the sort."

"He just doesn't. Give 'em time and maybe he'll like you. He didn't like me when we first met. Took me hard work to get to where I am now. Go take care of your own dragons. You're the local Dragonologist here. I'm just here for Neel."

"I have my own dragon too. Her name is Suckle. She's an Antipodean Opaleye."

"Lucky you. You get the prettiest breed, and I get the laziest breed."

Neel huffed and blew smoke into her face. Miriam coughed and waved it away.

"Mean dragon," she muttered.